438 lbs gone in 5 days - My Build Story

[Deschodt]

I've seen this car in person (thanks again Joe) and it's even nicer than the pictures would have you believe... The metallic blue accents on the silver are very nice... This is going to be too nice to race ;-)

But man, those shops take forever don't they ? At this rate you wanna start putting pressure so that you can make the november sebring date!!!

[911st]

Joe, wild!

Are you still running mostly stock suspension?

I am wondering if one takes off a lot of weight like you did, dose the stock suspension start to feel more adequate for sport purposes.

What net weight do you think you are coming in at?

[JeremyD]

Looks great - almost too good to track.

[flatsixnut]

Looking good, cant wait to see it in person after all the new work. Sent you a PM.
I was out of town most of the weekend, but I can prolly make it by durring the week unless you can hold out till the weekend.

[ShakinJoe]

Originally Posted by 911st

Joe, wild!

Are you still running mostly stock suspension?

I am wondering if one takes off a lot of weight like you did, dose the stock suspension start to feel more adequate for sport purposes.

What net weight do you think you are coming in at?

911st,

Suspension is stock, and it is amazing how much the car has risen above the tires. The torsion bars will be re-indexed this week. I have not changed them (thicker) until I know how the car feels and tracks. I am expecting a lot of good things, like better braking, better acceleration, and better corning with it in it's new form.

[Kirk Lundmark]

This is so cool.
Subscribed.

[SCHNELE]

subscribed

[911st]

Still on the edge of my seat, is it going to come in under 2350 lbs???

[flatsixnut]

Went by to take a look at Joe's car today and return his muffler by-pass pipe.
Whoa!!! The car looks outstanding. I took some cellphone pics but I will let Joe post his own pictures so as not to spoil his surprise. He took me for a short spin and the car felt very solid and quick. Now I am jealous.

[911st]

Joe,

416+70=486

Are you saying a 2800 lb 911 can get to almost 2300 lbs with steel body except bumpers and factory glass?

Or is there stuff we have to add back like seats, carpet, roll bar...

Great work!

[JeremyD]

He came by the house today with his son - It's a stunner! well executed. You wait till you see it - WOW

[ShakinJoe]

Originally Posted by 911st

Joe,

416+70=486

Are you saying a 2800 lb 911 can get to almost 2300 lbs with steel body except bumpers and factory glass?

Or is there stuff we have to add back like seats, carpet, roll bar...

Great work!

911st,

I will post very shortly the final tally, but here is prelim.

Into shop at 2344.
Out of Shop at 2445 ish. I still have a few things to add.

2300 would be tough for an '87-89 Carrera IMHO. There are still a few things that I could toss to get to 2400 lbs wet, but I will most likely end up between 2450 and 2500 lbs. Keep in mind that I started at over 2800 lbs. By the way, the difference is absolutley UNBELIEVABLE!!

The acceleration at low RPM is a lot better. I cannot wait to Auto-X and DE both in November.

Numerous pics and data to follow when I catch my breath!!

Thanks Jeremy and Michael for the kind words.

[911st]

Are you still running the stock heavy G50 clutch and all the Sunroof guts?

My 85 started at 2800 less the 50 lbs I took out of the the front trunk.

I am interested in with the new weight, dose the stock suspension seem track worthy???

Going through an S turn on the track with stock suspension can be a bit exciting with all the lean. I have HD/Sport shocks, euro height and full corner balance. Feels like I need to be stiffer.

Thx. One of the best posts.

[ShakinJoe]

Originally Posted by 911st

Are you still running the stock heavy G50 clutch and all the Sunroof guts?

My 85 started at 2800 less the 50 lbs I took out of the the front trunk.

I am interested in with the new weight, dose the stock suspension seem track worthy???

Going through an S turn on the track with stock suspension can be a bit exciting with all the lean. I have HD/Sport shocks, euro height and full corner balance. Feels like I need to be stiffer.

Thx. One of the best posts.

911st,

I am still using stock clutch, and I do have the sunroof still functional. As i tosed the AC, I thought I should have some ar movement here in humid Florida! I will have the car at an auto-x and a DE in November. So far on the street it seems real tight. I am having brake problem so I have not tested the weight loss stopping power, but the acceleration is sure there, particularly at low to mid RPM. I can stay in third gear more! I will be updating with l info!

[911st]

I think you have 20-35 lbs hiding in the stock clutch, & 40 in the SR.

Excellent work!

[Flieger]

Are you talking about the exploding rubber clutch? Those need to be wiped off the face of the earth. Get a spring centered cltch disc for reliability reasons, let alone the weight savings. You can prevent an expensive failure.

[911st]

No, G50 dual mass clutch. Key word being mass. I do not know how much is there but of the 100 lbs difference between the G50 and 915 cars, a big part of it is in the clutch. I think bare trans to trans is only about 35 lbs diff.

[arrivederci]

Does an '87 have a dual mass clutch? I thought the early G50s went back to some sort of rubber centered arrangement, with some of the '89s getting a dual mass that was phased in when 964 production started...

[KTL]

All,

My car is similar to Joe's build- a '87 911 car that is still very streetable, but has lost a lot of weight to gain some performance. Here is a short summary of what I changed to end up with a car that now weighs 2495 lbs with 5/8 tank of gas w/out me in it (165 lbs).

Front & rear IROC fiberglass bumpers- front has full lip/air dam. Front does have a nerf bar for marginal crash protection. I chose not to install the rear nerf angle stock. See Ultimate Ruf thread for some nerf discussion.

Ultimate RUF Conversion Thread

Fiberglass hood, fiberglass ducktail with plastic factory grille.

Removed all heating system components from engine bay- no fan, plastic ducting, heat exchanger Y-pipe.

Dynomax "custom" muffler replaces stock muffler (saves about 10 lbs) and cat premuffler saves some more

No cruise control assembly

Cobra Imola S seat with alloy side mounts & Cobra universal sliders. Total wt. just over 25 lbs vs. 50 lbs for a stock power seat. No passenger seat installed. Net savings is therefore 75lbs!

6 pt. Crow harness and B-K stainless harness bar.

No radio, rear speakers.

Odyssey 680 battery- saves about 25 lbs.

No A/C equipment except the console controls. Hoses, compressor, condensors, fans, engine bracket....... all gone

G50 lightweight clutch (Kennedy Engineered Products) which saves 8 lbs over the stock 25 lbs clutch according to my fishing scale. Sachs 930 3.0 spring clutch, stock flywheel

Lightweight 3 pt Rennline strut bar

Tool kit, jack and air pump removed, later alloy compact spare (to fit over Brembo brakes) left in place

VCI 951/964 Brembo brakes (Brembo calipers are lighter than orig. iron Carrera calipers) with '86 944 Turbo rotors. Complete installation is same or less unsprung weight with a good increase in thermal mass (front)

Similar sound deadening removal- rear deck/firewall padding, ltwt factory 996 engine bay pad, no floormats or floor carpeting or including trunk carpet. Still more weight loss to be had with ltwt RSA door panels and door speaker elimination in future.



Car is still streetable, even with 23/31 torsion bars, Koni sport adj. shocks, poly susp. bushings, monoball pickups and adjustable rear sway bar. Not comfortable by any means, but tolerable enough that you can drive it to & from the track, with the occasional street cruise for grins

I'm thinking I can get the car down to ~2450 lbs by removing sunroof assembly, install RSA door panels and install a better safety system- at least a 4 pt roll bar.

[JeremyD]

No pictures yet? Joe what up?